ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Cabinet
Cabinet approves rightsizing the Competition Commission of India
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for rightsizing the Competition Commission of India  from One Chairperson and Six Members  to One Chairperson and Three Members  by not filling the existing vacancies of two Members and one more additional vacancy, which is expected in September, 2018 when one of the present incumbents will complete his term.
Benefits:
The proposal is expected to result in reduction of three Posts of Members of the Commission in pursuance of the Governments objective of "Minimum Government - Maximum Governance".
As part of the Governments objective of easing the mergers and amalgamation process in the country, the Ministry had revised de minimis levels in 2017, which have been made applicable for all forms of combinations and the methodology for computing assets and turnover of the target involved in such combinations, has been spelt out. This has led to reduction in the notices that enterprises are mandated to submit to the Commission, while entering into combinations, thereby reducing the load on the Commission.
The faster turnaround in hearings is expected to result in speedier approvals, thereby stimulating the business processes of corporates and resulting in greater employment opportunities in the country.
The proposal is expected to result in reduction of three Posts of Members of the Commission in pursuance of the Governments objective of "Minimum Government - Maximum Governance".
Background:
Section 8 of the Competition Act, 2002  provides that the Commission shall consist of a Chairperson and not less than two and not more than six Members. Presently, the Chairperson and four Members are in position.
An initial limit of one Chairperson and not more than ten Members was provided in the Act, keeping in view the requirement of creating a Principal Bench, other Additional Bench or Mergers Bench, comprising at least two Members each, in places as notified by the Central Government. In the Competition  Act, 2007 , Section 22 of the Act was amended removing the provision for creation of Benches. In the same Amendment Act, while the Competition Appellate Tribunal comprising one Chairperson and two Members was created, the size of the Commission itself was not commensurately reduced and was kept at one Chairperson and not less than two but not more than six Members.
The Commission has been functioning as a collegium right from its inception. In several major jurisdictions such as in Japan, USA and U.K. Competition Authorities are of a similar size.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
NIPCCD Regional Centre, Lucknow organizes an awareness programme at Girls Home on 'Prevention and Management of Anemia for Adolescent Girls' under Nutrition Month
An awareness program was organized at Girls Home on 'Prevention and Management of Anemia for Adolescent Girls' on September 14, 2023 under Nutrition Month by NIPCCD Regional Centre, Lucknow. 30 teenage girls participated in the program.
Prime Minister's Office
PM congratulates citizens of Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh for becoming the first Har Ghar Jal certified district in the country
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated the citizens of Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh for becoming the first Har Ghar Jal certified district in the country.
In a response to the tweet by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, the Prime Minister said:
“Congratulations to my sisters and brothers of Burhanpur for this remarkable accomplishment. This would not have been possible without a collective spirit among the people and mission mode efforts by the JJM Team and the MP Government under Shivraj Singh Chauhan Ji.”
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas; Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Hardeep S Puri meets the CEO of Rosneft
Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas; Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Hardeep S. Puri,had a meeting with Mr. Igor Sechin, Chief Executive Officer of Rosneft Oil Company on 28 March 2023 in New Delhi.
Mr Sechin and Mr. Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.,signed a term agreement to substantially increase oil supplies as well diversify the grades to India, in the presence of Minister Puri.
Minister Puri and Mr. Sechin discussed ways of expanding cooperation between Rosneft Oil Company and Indian companies in the entire value chain of the energy sector, including possibilities of making payments in national currencies.
Particular attention was paid to the ongoing implementation of joint projects  between Rosneft and its Indian partners.
In this context, both sides took note of the robust two way investment between India and Russia, with investments from India in Russia at approximately USD 16 Billion, while that of Rosneft in India touching USD 13 billion.
Ministry of Finance
Income Tax Department conducts searches in a major Telecom Group
The Income Tax Department conducted search & seizure operations on a multinational group, engaged in distribution of telecom products and providing captive software development services, on 15.02.2022. The ultimate shareholding of the group lies with a foreign entity of a neighbouring country. The searches, which were spread across Delhi, Gurugram and Bengaluru covered the main business premises and also the residential premises of the key office bearers.
The search action has revealed that the group has made inflated payments against receipt of technical services from its related parties outside India. The assessee company could not justify the genuineness of obtaining of such alleged technical services in lieu of which payment has been made as also the basis of determination of consideration for the same. The expenses debited by the assessee company towards receipt of such services are to the tune of Rs. 129 crore over a period of five years.
During the search, it was found that, the assessee group has debited more than Rs.350 crore in its books of account in recent financial years towards royalty to its related party. Such expenses have been incurred for the use of brand and technical know-how related intangibles. During the search, the group has failed to substantiate receipt of any such services/technical know-how, or the basis of quantification of royalty rate for such claim. Consequently, the rendering of services and such royalty payments become highly questionable and prima facie, disallowable as business expenses as per extant Income Tax law.
Evidences gathered and statements recorded during the search also reveal that one of the group entities engaged in providing software development services, has been disclosing lower net margins from the related parties, by claiming its operation to be of low-end nature. However, the evidences collected during the investigation indicated that this entity has been rendering significant services/ operations of high-end nature. On this aspect, suppression of income of Rs. 400 crore has been detected.
The search action has further revealed that the group has manipulated its books of account to reduce its taxable income in India through creation of various provisions for expenses, such as provisions for obsolescence, provisions for warranty, doubtful debts/ loans & advances etc., which have little or no scientific/financial rationale. During the investigation, the group has failed to provide any substantial and appropriate justification for such claims.
Further investigations are in progress.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Rashtriya Puruskar Portal launched, nominations open for various Awards
Several civilian awards have been instituted by various Ministries/Departments/Agencies of the Government of India to recognize people who have excelled and made exceptional contribution in their fields.
For inviting nominations for various awards, a common Rashtriya Puruskar Portal  has been developed by the Government so as to bring together all the Awards of the various Ministries/Departments/Agencies of the Government of India under one digital platform to ensure transparency and public partnership . This Portal aims to facilitate citizens to nominate individuals/organizations for various Awards instituted by the Government of India.
Currently, nominations/recommendations for the following Awards are open:
- Padma Awards- Nomination open till 15/09/2022
- Sardar Patel National Unity Award- Nomination open till 31/07/2022
- Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award- Nomination open till 16/06/2022
- Jeevan Raksha Padak series of Awards- Nomination open till 30/09/2022
- Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Skill Excellence Award- Nomination open till 16/06/2022.
For further details and making nominations, please visit Rashtriya Puruskar Portal .
Ministry of Defence
Exercise Gaganshakti-2018: Maritime Air Operations
As part of the ongoing massive IAF exercise ‘Gaganshakti-2018’, on 14 Apr 18 the IAF conducted maritime air operations on the Western sea board, with the clear aim of air dominance and deep strike validation over the extended area of interest in the Indian Ocean Region . In the long range strike concept validation, the Su-30s, airborne from a base on the eastern coast engaged multiple targets, in the western seaboard, at distances beyond 2500 Km, and landed at a southern base, thus covering a total distance of 4000 Km, in a single mission. These staggering ranges were made possible by support of IL-78 Flight Refueling Aircraft, thus ensuring long range strike capabilities for our fighter aircraft. These joint operations have Indian Navy P-8i aircraft and AWACS of IAF in support.
Exercise Gaganshakti has provided an ideal environment to evaluate Joint Operations with the Indian Navy, to test enablers such as AWACS and FRAs in the Op matrix and in conjunction with Su-30 and Jaguar ac. The exploitation of the combat support assets helps to extend the reach in the entire IOR, our strategic area of influence.
Ministry of Defence
INDIGENOUS AIRBORNE LOCUST CONTROL SYSTEM ON MI-17 HELICOPTER
Anticipating Locust attack, Ministry of Agriculture signed a contract with M/s Micron, UK to modify two Mi-17 Helicopters for spraying atomized pesticide to arrest Locust breeding in May 2020. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the UK based firm would be able to manufacture and supply the modification kit to IAF only from Sep 2020 onward for system integration and testing. In the meanwhile, an unprecedented Locust attack started manifesting from last week of May and was fast spreading practically across many States.
In view of envisaged delay in provisioning of modification kits by M/s Micron, the Indian Air Force tasked No. 3 Base Repair Depot located at Chandigarh to undertake the challenging task of indigenously designing and developing an Airborne Locust Control System  for Mi-17 helicopters. Using all indigenous components, the atomized airborne spraying of pesticide has been successfully achieved in air through a configuration of nozzles mounted both sides on external trusses of a Mi-17 helicopter. The nozzles used for the purpose are a mix of commercially available nozzles as well as the nozzles developed by CSIO, Chandigarh. The pesticide Malathion in appropriate concentration would be filled in the internal Auxiliary tank of 800 liters capacity fitted inside the helicopter and pumped into the nozzles by using an electrical pump as well as compressed air, achieving nearly 40 minutes of spaying duration in the infected zone covering an area of approximately 750 hectares in each mission.
A team of Test Pilots and Test Engineers of Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment, Bangalore have successfully carried out ground and airborne trials of ALCS on a modified Mi-17 helicopter. The system is being offered for use with Malathion for employment in the locust control operation.
Being an indigenously developed system, the ALCS would offer inherent advantages of in-house maintenance, future upgradeability, saving of foreign exchange and help in making the country Self Reliant in aviation related technology.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Update on COVID-19
India issues Revised Guidelines for International Travelers in view of reported cases of new SARS-CoV-2 variant  across the world
Guidelines require all travelers  coming to India from countries identified as ‘countries at-risk’ to Mandatorily undergo post-arrival COVID-19 testing at Airport on Arrival
In continuation of the proactive and risk based approach for management of COVID-19 pandemic,Union Ministry of Health issuedrevised ‘Guidelines for International arrivals’ on 28th November, 2021. The updated guidelines require all travelers  coming to India from countries identified as ‘countries at-risk’ to mandatorily undergo post-arrival COVID-19 testing at airporton arrival in addition to pre-departure COVID-19 testing undertaken 72 hours before the departure. For passengers found positive in these test, they will be isolated and treated as per the clinical management protocol besides their samples also taken for Whole Genome Sequencing. The passengers found negative can depart the airport but have to undergo home isolation for 7 days, followed by repeat testing on 8th day of arrival in India, followed by 7 days of self-monitoring.
Further, in view of reports of increasing number of countries reporting the Omicron variant, the present Guidelines also mandate that 5% of the travelers coming from countries which are not in the ‘at risk category’ will also be tested on random basis at the airports for COVID-19.
Samples of all individuals testing positive for Covid-19, either at airports under home isolation or during random sampling, will also be sent for Whole Genomic Sequencing at identified INSACOG network laboratories to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 variants .
The B.1.1.529 variant  was first reported to WHO from South Africa on 24 November 2021 and the WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution  on 26th November 2021 has classified it as Variant of Concern  in view of large number mutations noted in the variant, some of which may make this mutation more transmissible and have immune escape behaviour. The emerging evidence on the issue is being monitored by Union Ministry of Health.
States have also been advised for rigorous surveillance of international passengers, enhanced testing, monitoring the hotspots of COVID -19, ensuring augmentation of health infrastructure, including undertaking samples for whole genome sequencing.
While Union Ministry of Health continues to closely follow the evolving nature of pandemic, strict adherence to COVID Appropriate Behavior  and undertaking Covid-19 vaccination remain the mainstay for managing COVID-19 at the community level.
The new guideline shall come into effect on 1st December 2021 . The detailed guidelines are available at:
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Contract Workers
Regular inspections are carried out to ensure enforcement of the provisions of Minimum Wages Act, 1948 by Central Industrial Relations Machinery  in the central sphere the details of which are as under:-
Details of Inspections Conducted under applicable Labour Laws during the last three years in the Central Sphere Establishments
Minimum Wages Act, 1948
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S.N.
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|
Particulars
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|
2017-18
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|
2018-19
|
|
2019-20
|
|
1
|
|
No. of Inspections Conducted
|
|
9187
|
|
8327
|
|
7709
|
|
2
|
|
No. of Irregularities detected
|
|
77399
|
|
61489
|
|
60528
|
|
3
|
|
No. of Irregularities Rectified
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|
39620
|
|
34465
|
|
23473
|
|
4
|
|
No. of Prosecutions launched
|
|
1651
|
|
2081
|
|
1633
|
|
5
|
|
No. of Convictions
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|
2205
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|
651
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|
413
This information was given by Minister of State  for Labour & Employment Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Nepal in the field of Health Research
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding  signed between Indian Council of Medical Research , India and the Nepal Health Research Council , Nepal in 17 November 2020 and 4 January
2021 respectively.
The objectives of this MOU are collaboration on joint research activities of mutual interest such as cross-border health issues, Ayurveda/traditional medicine and medicinal plants, climate change and health, non-communicable diseases, mental Health, Population based cancer registry, tropical diseases , Influenza, Clinical Trial Registry, health research ethics, Capacity building through exchange of knowledge, skills tools and fellows and Collaboration for adoption of tools, guidelines, protocols and best practices related to health research.
Each Party shall fund the components of the research approved under this MoU to be conducted in their country or may apply jointly for third party funding. For the exchange of scientists under approved collaborative projects, the sending Party shall bear the cost of travel of visiting scientists whereas the receiving Party will provide the accommodation and living expenses of the scientist/researcher. Commitment of funds for workshops/meetings and research projects may be decided from time to time as per the funds available at that time. Arrangements to implement and execute all these activities shall be agreed to by the Parties prior to commencement of the activity.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID19 Vaccination: Myths Vs. Facts
Distribution of Vaccine is done in a transparent manner based on population of a state, caseload, state’s utilisation efficiency and wastage factors
India’s National COVID Vaccination Program is built on scientific and epidemiological evidence, WHO guidelines and global best practices. Anchored in systematic end-to-end planning, it is implemented through effective and efficient participation of States/UTs and the people at large.
There have been some media reports alleging non-transparent allocation of COVID-19 vaccines toStates. These allegations are completely without any basis, and not fully informed.
It is clarified that Government of India continues to allocate COVID-19 vaccines to States/UTs in a transparent manner. Information about the vaccine supply by Government of India, consumption by the States/UTs, balance and unutilised vaccine doses available with States/UTs, along with vaccine supply in the pipeline is regularly shared through press releases made by Press Information Bureau, and also through other forums.
The distribution of COVID19 vaccine is done on the below mentioned parameters:
- Population of a state
- Caseload or disease burden
- State’s utilisation efficiency
The allocation is negatively affected bythe Vaccine Wastage.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
“No new cases of Nipah Virus disease in Kerala:” Dr Harsh Vardhan
Health Ministry extending all support to the Kerala government in its prevention and management: Dr Harsh Vardhan
"There have been no new cases of Nipah virus disease". This was stated by the Union Minister of Health and Family, Dr Harsh Vardhan who has been regularly reviewing the status of Nipah virus disease in Kerala. He assured the State Health Minister of Kerala, Smt K. K. Shailaja when she called on him yesterday, that the Central Government will continue to extend all support to the Kerala Government for its prevention and management.
A case of Nipah was reported from Ernakulum district, Kerala on 3 June, 2019. Soon after the case was reported, the Union Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan took stock of the situation and multi disciplinary Central teams have been deployed which includes experts from the NCDC, AIIMS and ICMR. The team is supporting the State in investigations, contact tracing, sample testing and management of the NiVD.
Experts from NIHSAD, Bhopal, are supporting the local Animal Husbandry Department in investigation. The team from animal health side has collected samples from livestock and has also collected samples of bat droppings. NIV Team with 3 entomologists have been deployed in the two residential locations of the index case . Strategic Health Operation Centre  at NCDC has been activated since 4 June, 2019 and is coordinating with field teams on surveillance and response activities for Nipah containment.
A dedicated phone line has been established at SHOC to answer queries of general public. Till date, only 42 calls have been received. Point of Care Test facility has been established at Medical college Ernakulum. Karnataka has increased surveillance for NiVD in districts neighboring Kerala, however, no suspects have been reported.
The condition of one positive case is stable. There have been no new cases. Out of eleven suspects, ten have tested negative and result for one is awaited. A total of 318 contacts are under quarantine.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 Vaccination Update
More than 48.03 Crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs
More than 2.92 Crore balance and unutilized doses still available with States/UTs and private hospitals to be administered
The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain.
As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them COVID Vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalization of the COVID19 vaccination drive, the Union Government will procure and supply  75% of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to States and UTs.
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VACCINE DOSES
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SUPPLIED
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48,03,97,080
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IN PIPELINE
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71,16,720
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CONSUMPTION
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45,27,93,441
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BALANCE AVAILABLE
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2,92,65,015
More than 48.03 crore  vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far, through all sources and a further 71,16,720 doses are in the pipeline.
Of this, the total consumption including wastages is 45,27,93,441 doses .
More than 2.92 Cr  balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs and private hospitals to be administered.